Battle Through the Heavens: Purple Heaven Thunder Emperor

Chapter 562 Encounter in the Void

In the endless void, three figures streaked across like shooting stars, surrounded by endless darkness and the occasional flash of silvery light.

There is no distinction between up, down, left, or right here, no sense of the passage of time, as if it were an eternal void.

Ling Qingzhu let Xiao Bai hold her waist as they traversed through the void.

This wasn't her first time experiencing space travel, but in the past, she had always been guided by her master.

This time—she quietly raised her eyes and looked at Xiao Bai, who was standing close by.

The young man in black robes gazed ahead, his profile appearing exceptionally handsome in the light, his eyes displaying a composure beyond his years.

The large hands on his waist simply rested lightly, without any further movement.

But the warmth of that hand seemed to penetrate her clothes and reach her heart.

From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever been so intimate with a man?

Ling Qingzhu's heart pounded like a drum, her breathing became slightly rapid, and her ears turned bright red, the blush barely concealed by her veil.

She tried to calm herself down and stop thinking about those messy things.

But the more she suppressed her emotions, the more chaotic her thoughts became. She recalled the first time she met Xiao Bai.

At that time, she encountered a crisis in the ancient tomb of the Great Yan Dynasty, and he came to her rescue.

She recalled her companions from the Great Wilderness Ancient Stele. Throughout the journey, he had been chatting and laughing, as if everything was under control.

The ancient secrets that even her master feared were nothing more than ordinary stories in his mouth.

She recalled everything that had happened today. For Xiao Hong's sake, he had repelled Ren Yuanzi with a single finger across the endless void.

That domineering aura, that composure, stirred up an indescribable emotion within her.

What does this feeling feel like? Ling Qingzhu doesn't know.

She had never experienced it before.

Master said that cultivators should purify their minds and reduce their desires, focusing on the Great Dao.

She has always done so. She achieved Nirvana at the age of eighteen, and before she turned twenty, she reached the Nine Yuan Nirvana, earning her the reputation as the greatest genius in the history of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace.

She believed that her life was about cultivating, becoming stronger, inheriting the sect, and protecting the disciples.

Love between a man and a woman?

Those are just mundane matters, not worth her attention.

But now—she's a little uncertain.

"Sister Qingzhu, what's wrong?" Xiao Hong's clear voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Ling Qingzhu's thoughts.

She blinked her big eyes, her gaze passing over Xiao Bai and looking at Ling Qingzhu on the other side, her eyes full of doubt.

"what?"

Ling Qingzhu jolted awake, instantly snapping out of her dazed state.

She then realized that she had been staring at Xiao Bai's profile for who knows how long.

"I—I'm fine."

She lowered her head, her voice slightly flustered. But then, she quietly looked up and stole a glance at Xiao Bai, who was standing right in front of her.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Ling Qingzhu lowered her eyes slightly, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She was innocent, yet he held her in his arms like that—

Is it his fault for being reckless?

But it seems that she herself suggested coming along.

Although the hand didn't make any extra movements, it still made her feel a little uneasy.

She caught a glimpse of Xiao Hong across the street out of the corner of her eye.

The girl clung to Xiao Bai like a koala, laughing carefree and excitedly surveying the surrounding void.

That innocent and carefree intimacy, that unguarded closeness—

Ling Qingzhu suddenly felt a pang of envy.

Indeed, sometimes being a little naive can make you happier.

"Oh, right!"

Suddenly remembering something, Xiao Hong excitedly looked up at Xiao Bai: "Master—Master, I want to change my name!"

She pouted, "I don't want to be called Xiao Xiaohong, can you help me come up with a new name?"

After she finished speaking, she stared intently at Xiao Bai's face, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Xiao Xiaohong?"

Xiao Bai was taken aback, tilted his head slightly, and looked at Xiao Hong, whose eyes were clear, with a strange expression.

"yes!"

Little Red stretched out her slender white fingers and began to seriously calculate: "Initially, it was my master who brought me out of the Tianyan Mountains, then gave me pills, and later gave me essence blood, allowing me to break free from the shackles of my original bloodline and thus gain the potential to take human form —"

She pressed down one finger after each item she listed, looking completely matter-of-fact: "So, my master gave me a second life, of course I should share his surname!"

Xiao Bai's eyes twitched slightly as he listened. Good heavens!

This little girl is determined to stick with him!

He had witnessed Xiao Hong's stubbornness on the ancient battlefield.

He would rather die than reveal his name.

That's when he revealed his whereabouts, hoping she would find him and come to see him.

But this little girl had taken to clinging to him. However, seeing the adoration on her face, Xiao Bai ultimately couldn't bring himself to refuse her.

Raising another little girl is nothing to him.

Anyway, the essence blood of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan is just gathering dust in the storage ring, so it's better to use it to nurture her.

Looking at Xiao Hong's innocent and naive appearance, Xiao Bai shook his head and looked away: "Since you want to have the surname Xiao, then you don't need to change it."

Why?

Xiao Hong pouted, somewhat reluctantly: "I don't want to be called Xiao Hong—it sounds awful—"

She pouted, looking aggrieved.

Ling Qingzhu quietly pricked up her ears. She too was drawn to Xiao Bai's words.

Why not change the name?

Does having the surname Xiao mean you have to be called Xiao Hong?

What's the logic behind this?

Xiao Bai glanced at Xiao Hong and said indifferently, "In my family, people with the surname Xiao are all named after colors."

Both women were taken aback. Named after a color?!

Then they suddenly thought of Xiao Bai—Bai!

"My original mount was named Little Gold."

Xiao Bai spoke with a distant tone, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

If we hadn't sent the Soul Emperor away when we fought him, that troublesome guy might have followed us here.

"Little Jin————"

Ling Qingzhu was slightly speechless.

The way this person next to me chooses a name is really—casual.

"Um—is Senior Jin really that strong?"

Little Red's eyes lit up with alarm.

It looked like the cat knew its owner had another cat.

Only then did she realize that her master had a mount!

And judging from the owner's expression, he clearly felt a bit nostalgic!

This inexplicably stirred a sense of crisis within her.

Looking at the girl's innocent expression, Xiao Bai smiled mischievously: "Someone like you, he could wipe out a whole bunch of you with a yawn."

Upon hearing this, the little girl's eyes widened in disbelief.

Can a yawn erase a large area?

How strong must that be?!

"snort!"

A moment later, Little Red said angrily, "Once I've refined the essence blood, he could kill me with a single yawn!"

"That's hard to say."

Xiao Bai was bored anyway, so he didn't mind teasing her and said with a smile, "That drop of essence blood can sustain you until you reach the Reincarnation Realm. As for Little Jin—he's already almost comparable to the Three Tribulations Reincarnation Realm."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hong opened her mouth wide and her eyes widened in surprise.

The Three Tribulations of Reincarnation?!

That's a realm that only exists in legends! A height she wouldn't even dare to dream of!

And such a powerful being is merely his master's mount?!

How strong must the master himself be?!

Not only Xiao Hong, but also Ling Qingzhu, who had been silently standing by, was already stunned.

A powerful expert at the Third Tribulation Reincarnation Realm as a mount?

As far as she knew, the strongest beings in the entire Eastern Xuan Region were merely the leaders of the major super sects, all of whom were at the Reincarnation Realm or half-step Reincarnation Realm.

Even her master, Ye Yue, the master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, was only at the Reincarnation Realm.

As for the Three Tribulations Reincarnation Realm—that's just a legendary existence!

It is said that only powerful beings from ancient times have reached that level!

And now, his mount is almost comparable to the Three Tribulations Reincarnation Realm?

"senior----"

Ling Qingzhu couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling slightly: "Who exactly are you?"

Xiao Bai glanced at her, smiled faintly, and did not answer.

Of course, he wouldn't say that he came from another world.

Seeing that Xiao Bai did not answer, Ling Qingzhu did not press him further.

Everyone has their own secrets. There's a reason why the older generation doesn't tell.

In the endless void, there is no sunrise or sunset, and one cannot feel the passage of time.

The three of them spent their time chatting idly. How much time passed—

Xiao Bai's steps suddenly stopped.

"Senior, have we arrived at the Thunder Sea?"

Ling Qingzhu came to her senses and asked softly.

She was no longer as embarrassed as she had been when she first entered the void.

She went to sea with her senior this time for two reasons. First, she really wanted to see the Chaotic Demon Sea and the Ancestral Symbol.

Another purpose was to spend some time with him and fully understand my own feelings.

If she truly liked her senior, she wouldn't shy away from it. If she didn't have those feelings, she would also unhesitatingly sever that lingering thought and dedicate her life to cultivation.

Xiao Bai did not answer her question. At this moment, he looked to his left front, his eyebrows slightly raised.

There, he sensed a presence.

The aura of the ancestral symbol. It wasn't the Thunder Ancestral Symbol he was looking for, but something else entirely—

"You are, after all, a cultivator at the Reincarnation Realm. Isn't it inappropriate to spy on others in secret?"

Xiao Bai suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly through the void.

Upon hearing this, Ling Qingzhu and Xiao Hong were greatly shocked!

They never expected to encounter people in this endless void!

Moreover, he was a Transcendent Realm expert! They followed Xiao Bai's gaze.

There was nothing there, only eternal darkness. But moments later, a streak of light streaked across the distant darkness!

The light grew closer and clearer. Within the light, two figures could be faintly seen.

One tall and one short, their presence was imposing.

The voice arrives before the person.

"Hahaha! No wonder you're someone even Aokiji can't see through; such keen perception!"

A hearty laugh rang out: "Young friend, please don't be offended. This old man merely sensed someone traversing the void, and their aura was quite strange, so I came out of curiosity to investigate!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the streak of light suddenly stopped a hundred feet away from Xiao Bai and the other two.

As the light faded, two figures were revealed.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in coarse linen clothes, had a kind smile on his face.

The old man's aura was unfathomable, and there were faint spatial fluctuations around him, clearly indicating that he had a profound understanding of the Dao of Space.

Beside the old man stood a girl who looked about five or six years old.

The little girl had two pigtails and wore a light blue dress. Her fair and tender face was like that of a porcelain doll, and her big eyes blinked as she curiously looked at Xiao Bai and the other two.

"Aokiji?"

Xiao Bai's eyes flashed; he hadn't expected to encounter someone who knew that Azure Dragon in this endless void.

That old dragon actually mentioned him to others?

However, when his gaze fell on the little girl, he immediately understood who these two people were.

The aura of the ancestral symbol emanated from the little girl.

Ancestral Symbol of Life and Death —

"The Undying Holy Whale Clan—"

Xiao Bai spoke slowly, revealing the identities of the two in one sentence.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes.

He never expected that this black-robed youth, who appeared to be only at the Nirvana Realm, could recognize their origins at a glance!

It should be noted that the Undying Holy Whale Clan lives deep within the Chaotic Demon Sea and rarely interacts with the outside world.

Even the leaders of the super sects in the Eastern Xuan Region might not be able to recognize their identities at a glance.

not to mention----

The old man's gaze narrowed slightly. The grandniece beside him was the biggest secret in the clan!

Could this young man in black robes see through something?

However, recalling Aokiji's astonished tone when he mentioned this person not long ago—"That kid is incredibly strange, even I can't see through him. If you encounter him in the future, be careful."

The old man didn't take it seriously at the time, but now he believes it to some extent.

It's not surprising that someone who couldn't see through them could recognize their identities.

"Young friend, your insight is truly remarkable."

The old man smiled, not denying it, but instead looking at Xiao Bai with great interest: "I am Mu Lan, an elder of the Undying Holy Whale Clan."

He pointed to the little girl beside him: "This is my grandniece, Mu Lingshan."

The little girl nodded obediently to Xiao Bai and said in a childish voice, "Hello, Uncle, hello, sisters."

The voice was soft and sweet, making one's heart soften.

Little Red's eyes lit up as she looked at the exquisitely beautiful little girl, wishing she could pinch her cheeks.

Ling Qingzhu nodded slightly in acknowledgment, but was secretly surprised.

She had heard of the Undying Holy Whale Clan.

That is one of the most powerful demon beast races in the Chaotic Demon Sea, with profound foundations and numerous powerful figures.

The clan even has a Reincarnation Realm expert in charge, so even the super sects of the Eastern Xuan Region dare not provoke them easily.

And just as everyone was exchanging pleasantries—

Xiao Bai's gaze, however, seemed to fall on Mu Lingshan almost imperceptibly.

That gaze was deep and inquisitive.

The old man frowned slightly, stepped forward, and shielded Mu Lingshan behind him: "Young friend, is there anything unusual about my grandniece?"

His tone was calm, but tinged with a hint of wariness.

Ling Qingzhu looked at Xiao Bai, puzzled.

This was the first time she had ever seen Xiao Bai so interested in someone.

Moreover, the other party was just a five or six-year-old girl.

"The Ancestral Symbol of Life and Death—"

Xiao Bai withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "I didn't expect the spirit of the Ancestral Symbol could also reincarnate and take human form!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked!

Ling Qingzhu's beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Mu Lingshan in disbelief!

Ancestral symbol?!

This seemingly harmless little girl is actually Zu Fu?!

And—it can even transform into a human?!

Although she knew that the Ancestral Symbol was a divine object formed from heaven and earth, she had never heard of it being able to transform into a human!

This completely overturned her understanding!

The old man Mu Lan's pupils suddenly contracted, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and his aura instantly became fierce!

He shielded Mu Lingshan, his gaze towards Xiao Bai filled with vigilance and—fear!

The fact that Ling Shan is the reincarnation of Zu Fu is the top secret of the Undying Holy Whale Clan!

Only a handful of people in the entire tribe knew about this!

Even some experts at the Reincarnation Realm couldn't see through Ling Shan's true identity in the past!

But unexpectedly—

Today, I was seen through at a glance!

"Your Mightiness----"

Mu Lan spoke slowly, her voice low and deep, her aura surging: "Who exactly are you?"

The atmosphere froze instantly!

The air currents in the void seemed to have stopped flowing!